HC Deb 20 November 1967 vol 754 cc928-34
Mr. Ridley (by Private Notice)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a further statement on the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Fred Peart)

Yes, Sir. This is one of the gravest epidemics of foot-and-mouth disease which has occurred this century, not merely because of the number of outbreaks, the number of animals slaughtered or the cost, but also because of the virulence of the virus. The speed with which symptoms have appeared in infected animals and the speed with which the disease has spread in infected areas, has been unprecedented.

The number of outbreaks so far is 639. The number of animals slaughtered is approximately 57,500 cattle, 26,500 sheep and 31,000 pigs. There have been 291 outbreaks in Cheshire, 223 in Shropshire, 44 in Flintshire, 37 in Denbighshire, and others in Montgomeryshire, Staffordshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Worcestershire, Westmorland, Gloucestershire and Leicestershire.

The campaign against the epidemic continues. The all-out efforts of my veterinary service and the unstinted help which they are receiving from the private profession, the military, the police, local authorities and everyone in the infected areas are beyond all praise. I pay tribute to the farming community for the fortitude with which they have borne their heavy losses.

I thank all those, including the stewards of the National Hunt Committee and the Royal Automobile Club, who have cancelled events likely to lead to considerable assemblages of people in the countryside for the public spirit they have shown. I ask the public to continue to keep out of the infected areas as far as possible.

I ask all farmers to give particular attention to four important points. First, they should redouble their vigilance in watching for symptoms of the disease and continue to report anything suspicious immediately. Second, every effort should be made to house as many animals as possible. Third, they should try to keep livestock in separate units and to stop any movement of personnel, feedingstuffs and machinery between these units. Fourth, they should keep visitors and vehicles as far as possible outside the farm gate.

I have said that this is a very grave epidemic, but it is being contained. If the present united effort is kept up, we shall win through.

Mr. Ridley

While I thank the Minister for making that statement, may I ask him to give an assurance that in his opinion he has adequate powers to prevent the movement of persons, vehicles and horses in and out of all the affected areas? Can he further say what steps he is contemplating taking to make quite certain that no more infection comes into this country from South America, if, indeed, that is where it comes from?

Mr. Peart

The answer to the first part of the question is, Yes. On the second part of the question, I am looking at the matter. As yet I have no positive proof. I am giving the whole matter of imports very active consideration.

Dr. John Dunwoody

Would my right hon. Friend consider the possibility of protecting disease-free areas in the country which are geographically isolated by setting up stations along main roads so that all vehicles entering areas such as the far South-West and Scotland are disinfected before they enter them?

Mr. Peart

I have looked at that suggestion. I know that my hon. Friend has been in contact with the Ministry about it. I do not think that it is practicable, but I will give it further consideration.

Sir A. V. Harvey

While no doubt the restriction on the movement of people is correct, as this unfortunate epidemic is now approaching a national disaster will the Minister consider visiting Cheshire, at any rate, and some of the other infected areas to try to help morale among some of the unfortunate farmers? He has not been there yet.

Mr. Peart

I have deliberately refrained from going into the infected areas and I think that that is right. I must set an example. I announced the other day that I had cancelled a visit abroad to give strength and support to my veterinary staff. Yesterday, I was at the Ministry after my visit to the North. I have tried to stress that I will do everything possible. I will bear in mind what the hon. and gallant Gentleman said. If he feels that a visit by me is necessary, I will go. But it is far better that I should have control at the centre.

Mr. Biffen

Is the Minister aware that there is immense regard and respect for the work being done by the veterinary staff? Is he satisfied that he has sufficient staff to deal with all the obligations normally placed upon them in view of the quite fantastic and terrifying spread of the epidemic?

Mr. Peart

Yes, I am satisfied. I mentioned in my statement to the House last week that I had 300 veterinary staff at my service. I have also diverted other staff from among my own national advisory service, and they are working at full stretch. If we can carry on as we are, I think that we can win through all right, but if I have to take further measures I will report them to the hon. Member.

Mr. Godber

While echoing the praise which the Minister offered to those who are working so hard and his sympathy to those who have suffered from this outbreak, may I ask him to consider setting up a special committee with his Department to look at the consequential problems, which will be very serious for farmers, particularly in Cheshire and Shropshire?

Mr. Peart

I would rather wait until we succeed in containing the epidemic. It may well be that we shall have to look at that again. I will not close my mind to the suggestions made by the right hon. Gentleman, who has been very constructive indeed.

Mr. Parkyn

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is some informed opinion which now holds the view that the virus may be spread airborne from the way in which the carcases are destroyed by fire? Is his Ministry looking into that possibility?

Mr. Peart

Every supposition is being examined. We are looking at that matter carefully.

Mr. Pardoe

Is the Minister prepared to say what progress has been made towards ascertaining the original source of the epidemic? Further to the point made by the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Dr. John Dunwoody), in view of the fact that it is comparatively easy for Cornwall to be isolated from the rest of the country, would he set up disinfection points for the tyres of motorcars?

Mr. Peart

If I knew the source, I would tell the House. I do not know the source. I wish I did. Our scientists and veterinary staff are trying to find out. I have already answered the second part of that question.

Dr. David Kerr

Have any trials been made in the use of anti-viral agents? If so, under whose auspices are they taking place? If, when he refers to disinfecting the roads, he means one man walking along with a watering-can, that makes those of us who know anything about disinfestation laugh.

Mr. Peart

I do not know what my hon. Friend is referring to. Pirbright, which is the research centre, is the finest in the world. We do research for Europe and other parts of the world. We are examining this problem continually.

Sir W. Bromley-Davenport

Have we been importing any meat into this country from South America which the United States refuses to accept because of suspected disease?

Mr. Peart

I cannot say whether or not we have been importing meat which would have gone to the United States. The hon. Gentleman knows that we have traditional imports from South America. I assure the House that I am looking into this matter carefully.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

Has the Ministry studied the practicability of vaccinating all cloven-footed animals in the infected areas?

Mr. Peart

Certainly. This was examined not only by my Ministry but by an independent committee, the Gowers Committee, which reported on this subject. It was found that one vaccination would cost between £10 million and £15 million for a whole country—and that would be for only one vaccination. It might be necessary, however, to have two vaccinations in the first year, followed by one vaccination the following year. This would, therefore, be an extremely costly process.

Mr. Webster

Is there sufficient disinfectant in the country to cope with this emergency? If not, is the right hon. Gentleman taking steps to provide more?

Mr. Peart

I am not aware of any shortage of disinfectant.

Earl of Dalkeith

What consultations has the right hon. Gentleman had with the Secretary of State for Scotland with a view to sealing off the Scottish border and subjecting all vehicles to the most rigorous disinfecting?

Mr. Peart

As a Border man, I am very much attracted to that idea. I assure the hon. Gentleman, on the general issue, that I am in touch with my right hon. Friend on this as on all agricultural matters.

Mr. Lipton

Can my right hon. Friend say what effect this lamentable epidemic will have on meat supplies and prices?

Mr. Peart

I cannot say as yet, but, obviously, it will have some effect.

Viscount Lambton

Has the new procedure for slaughter, which was recommended this year, been carried out in every respect by the Ministry? Is it not somewhat remarkable that there has not been an outbreak in Northern Ireland since that country ceased importing meat from the Argentine?

Mr. Peart

I have, of course, sought to implement many of the recommendations made by the N.F.U., which emanated primarily from the Northumberland County Branch of the union. I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern in connection with the Northumberland outbreak. I have a list with me of the recommendations that have been accepted—for example, warning notices and the use of the captive bolt pistol. I assure the hon. Gentleman that many of the recommendations have been put into effect by me.

Mr. G. Campbell

Will the right hon. Gentleman, with the Secretary of State for Scotland, consider imposing drastic restrictions on the movement of animals in order to try to preclude the risks of the disease from spreading to areas which are not now infected?

Mr. Peart

I have taken a number of measures and, as I have told the House. I am in touch with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. I assure the hon. Gentleman that we will take whatever measures are necessary.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

Since many of these unfortunate farmers will have no income at all for six months and cannot be expected to borrow at an 8 per cent. Bank Rate, will the right hon. Gentleman make low or zero interest rate loans available so that they can keep going till they are able to resume their farming activities again?

Mr. Peart

I am unable to answer that question. The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the compensation policy. I am following the policy agreed by my predecessors. I see no reason to alter this position.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

But there was no 8 per cent. Bank Rate.

Several Hon. Members rose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The Chancellor of the Exchequer. Statement.

Sir C. Taylor

On a point of order. In view of the economic statement which the House anticipates and of the insistence which the Government have placed on the incidence of the dock strike, could we have an assurance from the Government that an answer will be given to Question No. 100 either now or during the course of the Chancellor's economic statement?

Mr. Speaker

I think that the hon. Gentleman knows as well as anybody else that that is not a point of order.